Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 1 of 11 1 THE HONORABLE RICHARD A. JONES 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 9 10 11 12 BLACK LIVES MATTER SEATTLEKING COUNTY, ABIE EKENEZAR, SHARON SAKAMOTO, MURACO KYASHNA-TOCHA, ALEXANDER WOLDEAB, NATHALIE GRAHAM, AND ALEXANDRA CHEN, 15 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN Plaintiffs, 13 14 No. 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ v. CITY OF SEATTLE, SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 16 Defendant. 17 18 Pursuant to Rule 26(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Western District of 19 Washington and the Court’s Order (Dkt. No. 38), Plaintiffs Black Lives Matter Seattle-King 20 County, Abie Ekenezar, Sharon Sakamoto, Muraco Kyashna-tochá, Alexander Woldeab, 21 Nathalie Graham, and Alexandra Chen, and Defendant City of Seattle (collectively the “Parties”) 22 submit the following Joint Status Report and Discovery Plan: 23 1. 24 Plaintiffs’ claims arise out of Defendant’s response to ongoing protests against police 25 brutality and Defendant’s crowd control policies, including Defendant’s use of “less-lethal” 26 weapons. Plaintiff alleges, inter alia, claims of violation of the First and Fourth Amendments to JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887Perkins Coie LLP RAJ) –1 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 148677788.3 Statement of the Nature and Complexity of the Case. Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 2 of 11 1 the United States Constitution. Defendant denies Plaintiffs’ allegations and asserts affirmative 2 defenses, including, but not limited to, lack of standing, that Defendant cannot be held liable on a 3 respondeat superior basis, and Plaintiffs are not entitled to declaratory relief. Plaintiffs filed a 4 motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, which the Court granted in part. The Parties stipulated 5 to a Preliminary Injunction. Neither party deems this case particularly complex. 6 2. 7 The Parties respectfully propose a deadline of September 30, 2020 for joining additional 8 9 Proposed Deadline for Joining Additional Parties. parties. 3. 10 No. 11 4. 12 Assignment to Magistrate Judge. Proposed Discovery Plan: A. 13 Initial Disclosures. No deviation from Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a). The Parties will exchange initial disclosures on July 15, 2020. 14 B. Subject, Timing, and Potential Phasing of Discovery. The Parties expect 15 the topics for discovery to include all asserted claims and defenses. 16 Discovery will be completed at least 120 days prior to the proposed trial 17 date, in accordance with the Court’s order. Dkt. 38. 18 C. Electronically Stored Information. The Parties do not currently seek 19 additional management on discovery issues. The Parties do not anticipate 20 electronic discovery to be onerous at this point in time. 21 D. 22 privilege issues in this matter. 23 E. 24 Proposed Limitations on Discovery. The Parties do not propose any limitations on discovery. 25 26 Privilege Issues. The Parties agree that there are no unique or special F. Discovery Related Orders. The Parties anticipate seeking entry of a protective order to protect sensitive matters, such as personal identity JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887Perkins Coie LLP RAJ) –2 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 148677788.3 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 3 of 11 1 information and tactical/training information, the public disclosure of 2 which would compromise effective law enforcement, or as otherwise 3 permitted under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Parties 4 anticipate negotiating and presenting such an order to the Court by July 5 31, 2020. 6 5. 7 Local Civil Rule 26(f)(1) A. 8 Prompt Case Resolution. The Parties have communicated about the potential for early resolution. 9 B. Alternative Dispute Resolution. The Parties intend to pursue mediation 10 pursuant to Local Civil Rule 39.1 at least 60 days prior to the proposed 11 trial date. 12 C. 13 Related Cases. There are currently no related cases pending in the United States. 14 D. Discovery Management. Plaintiffs do not believe that this case will 15 require unusual or extensive discovery, or assistance or orders from the 16 Court regarding the scheduling or management of discovery. Defendant 17 anticipates time-consuming discovery, as this case potentially involves 18 thousands of hours of video requiring review, potential redaction, and 19 production. The Parties anticipate cooperating with respect to discovery 20 issues as outlined herein, and will cooperate to simplify pretrial matters 21 related to the case to the extent possible. The Parties anticipate agreeing 22 to email service of discovery documents, where possible. 23 E. Anticipated Discovery Sought. Plaintiffs anticipate seeking discovery 24 regarding: (1) the decisions pertaining to the use of force against 25 protestors; (2) Defendant’s policies related to the use of force against 26 protestors; (3) the identities of Incident Commanders responsible for JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887Perkins Coie LLP RAJ) –3 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 148677788.3 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 4 of 11 1 coordinating police operations during ongoing demonstrations or marches; 2 (4) police incident logs and reports related to ongoing demonstrations or 3 marches; (5) communications to, from, and within the Seattle Police 4 Operations Center regarding crowd control efforts and ongoing 5 demonstrations or marches; (6) communications with other agencies 6 regarding intelligence of ongoing demonstrations or marches; (7) briefing 7 materials or other documents provided to police officers regarding crowd 8 control efforts; (8) communications with other agencies, departments, or 9 organizations regarding crowd control efforts within Defendant’s 10 jurisdiction; (9) daily inventory of all “less lethal” crowd control tools and 11 policies, trainings, and related communications; (10); information 12 regarding order for each deployment and use of “less lethal” crowd control 13 tool and identity of officer involved; (11) identity of other agencies, 14 departments, or organizations who aided with crowd control; (12) officer 15 body worn video (“BWV”) footage; (13) health records and incident 16 records pertaining to officers injured in response to ongoing protests, 17 marches, and demonstrations. 18 Defendant anticipates seeking discovery regarding (1) the factual bases for 19 Plaintiffs’ claims; (2) Plaintiffs’ claimed injuries; (3) the individual 20 Plaintiffs’ activities during the events at issue; (4) Plaintiffs’ 21 communications relating to the events at issue and their claimed injuries; 22 (5) Plaintiffs’ planning for the events at issue; (6) Photographs and videos 23 in Plaintiffs’ possession relating to the events at issue and Plaintiffs’ 24 claimed injuries; and (7) documents, records, and other tangible items in 25 Plaintiffs’ possession related to the events at issue and Plaintiffs’ claimed 26 injuries. JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –4 148677788.3 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 5 of 11 1 F. Phasing. Phasing is not currently required in this case, but may be 2 proposed at a later point in the case, depending on case development, 3 needs, and circumstances. 4 G. Preservation of Discoverable Information. The Parties do not currently 5 anticipate any issues regarding the perseveration of evidence, which may 6 also involve obtaining materials from third parties. 7 H. Privilege Issues. The Parties agree that there are no unique or special 8 privilege issues in this matter. Parties agree to handle inadvertent 9 production of privileged information pursuant to Fed. R. Evid. 502(d) and 10 (e) or otherwise in accordance with procedures agreed to by the parties. 11 I. Model Protocol for Discovery of ESI. The Parties agree to adopt the 12 Model Agreement regarding Discovery of ESI to the extent that discovery 13 of such information arises in this case, with modifications agreed to by 14 both Parties. The Parties intend to negotiate modifications to the Model 15 Agreement prior to the September 30, 2020 expiration of the Stipulated 16 Order Entering a Preliminary Injunction. 17 J. Alternatives to Model Protocol. See above. 18 6. 19 The Parties propose 120 days before trial as a deadline for completion of discovery, in Discovery Cut-off. 20 accordance with the Court’s Order. Dkt. 38. The Parties will be permitted to conduct expert 21 discovery up to 45 days after the disclosure of expert reports and/or rebuttal expert reports 22 mandated under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a). 23 7. 24 Bifurcation is not anticipated at this time. 25 8. Bifurcation. Trial Date. 26 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –5 148677788.3 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 6 of 11 1 The Parties’ earliest availability for trial is July 2021. In light of evolving conditions 2 related to the COVID-19 outbreak in the District, including General Order No. 08-20, the Parties 3 recognize that the trial date may be delayed. 4 9. 5 Plaintiffs do not intend to file a jury demand. 6 10. 7 The parties estimate approximately 10 court days. 8 11. 9 Attorneys for Plaintiffs 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Jury. Length of Trial. Trial Counsel. David A. Perez Joseph M. McMillan Carolyn S. Gilbert Nitika Arora Heath Hyatt Paige L. Whidbee Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Telephone: 206.359.8000 Facsimile: 206.359.9000 Email: DPerez@perkinscoie.com JMcMillan@perkinscoie.com CarolynGilbert@perkinscoie.com NArora@perkinscoie.com HHyatt@perkinscoie.com PWhidbee@perkinscoie.com 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –6 148677788.3 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 7 of 11 1 Molly Tack-Hooper Nancy L. Talner Lisa Nowlin Breanne Schuster John Midgley American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation P.O. Box 2728 Seattle, WA 98111 Telephone: (206) 624-2184 Email: mtackhooper@aclu-wa.org talner@aclu-wa.org lnowlin@aclu-wa.org bschuster@aclu-wa.org jmidgley@aclu-wa.org 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Robert S. Chang Melissa Lee Jessica Levin Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic Seattle University School of Law 1112 E. Columbia Street Seattle, WA 98122 Telephone: 206.398.4025 Fax: 206.398.4077 Email: changro@seattleu.edu leeme@seattlue.edu levinje@seattleu.edu 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Attorneys for Defendant Ghazal Sharifi Carolyn Boies Assistant City Attorneys Seattle City Attorney’s Office 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2050 Seattle, WA 98104 Telephone: (206) 684-8200 Email: Ghazal.Sharifi@seattle.gov Carolyn.Boies@seattle.gov 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 / / / 26 / / / JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –7 148677788.3 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 8 of 11 1 Robert L. Christie Thomas P. Miller Ann E. Trivett Megan M. Coluccio Christie Law Group, PLLC 2100 Westlake Avenue N., Suite 206 Seattle, WA 98109 Telephone: (206) 957-9669 Email: bob@christielawgroup.com tom@christielawgroup.com ann@christielawgroup.com megan@christielawgroup.com 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12. Trial Date Conflicts. 9 Plaintiffs are available for trial in February 2021 and do not anticipate any unavailability 10 in the subsequent months. 11 Counsel for defendant is available for trial from July 19, 2021 through August 20, 2021; 12 September 13, 2021 through October 8, 2021; and October 18, 2021 through November 19, 13 2021. 14 13. Corporate Disclosure Statement. 15 The Parties filed their disclosure statements as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.1 and Local 16 Civil Rule 7.1 on the following dates: 17 18  Plaintiffs: June 9, 2020.  Defendant: Not applicable. 19 14. Service. 20 Defendant was served with the Complaint on June 9, 2020. 21 22 23 24 25 26 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –8 148677788.3 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 9 of 11 1 2 DATED: July 14, 2020 3 4 5 6 7 8 By: s/ David A. Perez By: s/ Joseph M. McMillan By: s/ Carolyn S. Gilbert By: s/ Nitika Arora By: s/ Heath Hyatt By: s/ Paige L. Whidbee David A. Perez #43959 Joseph M. McMillan #26527 Carolyn S. Gilbert #51285 Nitika Arora #54084 Heath Hyatt, #54141 Paige L. Whidbee, # 55072 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Telephone: 206.359.8000 Facsimile: 206.359.9000 Email: DPerez@perkinscoie.com JMcMillan@perkinscoie.com CarolynGilbert@perkinscoie.com NArora@perkinscoie.com HHyatt@perkinscoie.com PWhidbee@perkinscoie.com 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 By: s/ Molly Tack-Hooper By: s/ Nancy L. Talner By: s/ Lisa Nowlin By: s/ Breanne Schuster By: s/ John Midgley Molly Tack-Hooper, #56356 Nancy L. Talner #11196 Lisa Nowlin #51512 Breanne Schuster #49993 John Midgley, #6511 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –9 148677788.3 American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation P.O. Box 2728 Seattle, WA 98111 Telephone: (206) 624-2184 Email: mtackhooper@aclu-wa.org talner@aclu-wa.org lnowlin@aclu-wa.org bschuster@aclu-wa.org jmidgley@aclu-wa.org Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 10 of 11 1 By: s/ Robert S. Chang By: s/ Charlotte Garden By: s/ Melissa Lee By: s/ Jessica Levin Robert S. Chang, #44083 Melissa Lee #38808 Jessica Levin #40837 2 3 4 5 6 Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic Seattle University School of Law 1112 E. Columbia Street Seattle, WA 98122 Telephone: 206.398.4025 Fax: 206.398.4077 Email: changro@seattleu.edu 7 8 9 10 11 Attorneys for Plaintiffs Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County, Abie Ekenezar, Sharon Sakamoto, Muraco Kyashna-tochá, Alexander Woldeab, Nathalie Graham, and Alexandra Chen 12 13 14 By: s/ Ghazal Sharifi By: s/ Carolyn Boies Ghazal Sharifi, #47750 Carolyn Boies, #40395 15 16 Seattle City Attorney’s Office 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2050 Seattle, WA 98104 Telephone: (206) 684-8200 Email: Ghazal.Sharifi@seattle.gov Carolyn.Boies@seattle.gov 17 18 19 20 Attorneys for Defendant City of Seattle 21 By: s/ Robert L. Christie By: s/ Thomas P. Miller By: s/ Ann E. Trivett By: s/ Megan M. Coluccio Robert L. Christie, #10895 Thomas P. Miller, #34473 Ann E. Trivett, #39228 Megan M. Coluccio, #44178 22 23 24 25 26 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –10 148677788.3 Christie Law Group, PLLC Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000 Case 2:20-cv-00887-RAJ Document 50 Filed 07/14/20 Page 11 of 11 1 2100 Westlake Avenue N., Suite 206 Seattle, WA 98109 Telephone: (206) 957-9669 Email: bob@christielawgroup.com tom@christielawgroup.com ann@christielawgroup.com megan@christielawgroup.com 2 3 4 5 Attorneys for Defendant City of Seattle 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 JOINT STATUS REPORT AND DISCOVERY PLAN (No. 2:20-cv-00887RAJ) –11 148677788.3 Perkins Coie LLP 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 Seattle, WA 98101-3099 Phone: 206.359.8000 Fax: 206.359.9000